What's up everyone?

Welcome into a Week sixteen Giants Hangout, brought to you by Crestrown.

My name is Madeline Burke, joined as always by Matt Sidetach Russ Salzburg, and the Super Bowl champion Jonathan Cassius.

Guys, it's Week sixteen, the tail end of the regular season, three more games left.

We're to talk about this commander's game JC.

I know last week we talked a little bit about, you know what you wanted to see the growth of Abdul Carter.

He came out ready to play.

Yeah.

Absolutely, he had his best game of his career, his young career so far.

I mean, I don't think he goes to say that he had his best week of practice this week, as Bullin said, And you know, look, the guy's a phenomenal talent.

You know, I think he has some lapses this year and some judgment things, but he's such a good talent man, and that was what we've been expecting from him every single game.

And if he can keep sacking days like that, not only is it good for him, it's good for the defense as a whole.

You know, you get guys fired up when you start making plays other guys on the back end, you look at a guy in front of them making plays and it makes job a lot easier too.

It wasn't enough, of course, the Giants end up losing the game, but it was good to see him take a step forward and show us the talent that we always knew we had.

Right multiple two force fumbles, multiple tackles for lost the sack in the game, and affecting the defense and Russ When you look at the way the defense performed as a whole, especially late in the game, giving the Giants a couple opportunities in the fourth quarter, how do you evaluate what we saw from the defense against Washington.

I was just you know, Madelin.

Look, let's full disclosure.

You and I were sitting next to each other.

You had to leave more in the second half to get ready for the show.

But I was just disappointed.

I just want to piggyback on something that jac said.

Is good as he looked as terrific as he looked Abdul in the game.

What I was more happy about.

I'm really proud of him.

He responded to the heat that he was getting for the last couple of weeks.

You know, some guys can go sulk and almost let its defeat themselves.

Instead he reacted, and he really, I mean he was the best player on defense out you know, on the field in terms of the defense.

Look, we're sitting there in the first half watching them getting spanked.

It was an ugly first half.

And yeah, they made plays.

They got better in the second half.

But then at the same point, just like the offense got better in the second half.

But again, what this team has lacked, both defensively and offensively all season long is making plays when they must make a play, when they need to make a big play.

I don't need you to catch me a touchdown when it's when you're down by twenty points.

I need you to catch me a touchdown when you're down by six, That's what I need.

I don't need you to make me a stop when you're down by x amount of points.

I mean, I need you to make me a stop when you got a chance to come back and win the game.

And I just want to see make plays when they need to be made, not when it's convenient to make the play.

But credit to this team too, because early in the season, you know you've seen the Giants late in the games kind of let off the gas a bit, and this is an opportunity where it looked like the game had gotten away from them, and they continue to press and continue to fight for it.

But to your point where I was, I mean that first half, the offense struggled, and Matt, I mean, we've seen the Giants offense come out so many times scoring on the opening drive this season.

That first half took a while for the offense to kind of get their sea legs going.

What do you make what you saw from the offense.

Yeah, so it was kind of a tail of two halves for the offense in this game.

I mean, in the first half, the unit really struggled, only had seven points, you know, went into halftime down twenty two to seven.

Jackson Dart had that one interception late in the half that directly led to the.

Commander's late field goal.

But the thing you want to see from young players is battling through adversity, and Jackson Dart came back in the second half and looked so significantly better, you know, through two touchdowns one hundred and seventy five yards all in the second half, led the Giants to two other drives that should.

Have resulted in points.

One was the missed field goal and the other one was the turnover on downs inside the five yard line.

So it wasn't a perfect performance from Jackson or from the entire offense.

But again, a sign of growth from a young player is being able to adjust and improve from one half to the other.

And that's exactly what we saw from Jackson on Sunday.

Yeah, and you want to see that growth from a young quarterback.

And speaking of young quarterbacks, Sunday Week sixteen, the Giants hosting the Vikings.

Two young quarterbacks Jackson Dart and JJ McCarthy is having his essentially red shirt rookie season after being had his entire rookie season last year with an injury.

Two young quarterbacks, two swaggy quarterbacks.

I mean, Giants fans are well familiar with Jackson Dar's aura.

JJ McCarthy last week just hit the gritty into the end zone to score a touchdown.

They've got like that personality and that moxie around them.

But Russ, when you look at just the talent level of these young quarterbacks as they're building these you know, build blocks up these franchises, what do you see in Jackson Dart and JJ McCarthy.

Well, I mean in Jackson, you know, in Jackson Dart what we see each week, he's got moxie, he's got character, he's got charisma.

I've said this to people.

I've been covering sports for a long time, forty years in the business, and I will tell you I have not come across in any sport a more mature, composed rookie than Jackson Dart.

And I mean that sincerely.

I mean the way he handles himself.

He doesn't speak like a wide eyed rookie.

He speaks mature, He knows what he wants to say, he doesn't get swayed, and he's got swagger on the field, and he's got confidence in himself, and he's a leader.

In terms of as far as McCarthy goes, I don't see him on a regular basis, you know.

And we were seeing a lot of not so good things the last couple of weeks.

We've seen good things as far as doing his little dance whatever.

I'm not killing anybody for that, you know.

That's that's the way.

It drives me crazy when guys pop up and do a dance when they're losing by twenty one points and pointing showing that they made a first down.

So I'm not killing somebody on that.

But I mean the biggest thing, and you asked me about the defense earlier, the biggest thing.

I don't want our defense making McCarthy look good.

Okay, you know last week in that game, there were two passes.

One was a fifty one yard touchdown to McLaurin.

It wasn't because it was a great play.

He was running like he was a thoroughbred running in a wide open field.

And then there was another play.

It was this stint.

I mean wide open, right, wide open down the field.

That stuff cannot happen.

So let's not make them look good.

Let them have to work for looking good.

As far as work for it, I'm not, you know, be like a Jonathan Casius defense giving up fifty on a multiple time offens.

Sorry, we just got a call.

It's a callback for regular watchers of our show.

Here we say it with love, jac But you know, because you look at the way that you know this Giants defense is going to approach going up against the Vikings offense.

What are the keys here?

Well, I think number one, you got one of the best receivers if not the best receiver on the outside and Justin Jefferson and JJ can't really get going if Justin is not involved.

You know, JJ McCarthy has been kind of up and down the season last couple of weeks, putting up thirty points, but susceptible defenses.

Statistically, he's not really that great.

He has eleven interceptions on the year.

But he's a guy if you get him going, if you can get Justin Jefferson involved early.

He's such a phenomenal wide receiver.

He's such a big play guy.

He can change a game and break it open the game.

And then they would love to run a football with Jordan Mason and the Giants, you know, giving up league high almost six yards of carry.

I don't see them putting the ball in JJ's hands.

I see them giving the ball to the run game, allowing first second down as rush plays, run plays, and then have a manageable third downs with the number one wide receiver on the outside.

That would be how I would attack the Giants defense.

I wouldn't try to put JJ McCarthy to be this.

Oh, look at our quarterback.

No, let's look at our physicality in our run game.

Because the Giants can't stop anybody in the run and then we'll convert something on third downs, maybe get them to jump off side, because the Giants have been getting pushed around in the run game consistently this year.

Yes, they did a good job when you look at the numbers against the Commanders, but we all watched the game.

The Commanders ran the ball when they needed to run the ball.

They had big play runs, they had touchdown runs.

They was pushing the Giants around, and the Giants had to figure out a way to stop a team.

Let it be the Vikings, let it be the Raiders, whoever it is.

They have to figure out a way to stop a team because of a team can run the ball.

They don't care how good or how talented their quarterback is, how talented receivers are.

They're just going to run the football.

And the Giants got to figure out a way to stop that.

Yeah, I got to figure out a way to stop the run.

Got to figure out a way to capitalize on takeaways because, as you mentioned, JJ McCarthy is one to be very charitable with the ball.

Going into Week fifteen, he had more turnovers than touch or interceptions than touchdowns.

Kind of leveled that out in Week fifteen there, but you know, if the Giants defense can capitalize that put the offense in a good position to score as well.

That could be good for the offense, including for Tyrone Tracy and THEO Johnson Matt who have been pretty key for this offense.

What are you expecting to see from Tracy and THEO in Week sixteen?

Yeah, so this is a tough matchup for the Giants offense.

I'm not gonna lie the Vikings defense.

You know, Minnesota overall has been struggling this season, obviously with their record they're six and eight.

You know, they're not the best team in the NFC or the NFC North, but their defense has really been fantastic and it starts with their past y.

I mean, they rank within the top five in passing yards, passing touchdowns.

So this might be, you know, a slightly tougher matchup for the offense as a whole unit to really get going.

But as you mentioned, Tyrone Tracy has been playing really well lately.

I mean he's coming off a game against the Commanders where he averaged over four and a half yards per Carrie came up with a huge touchdown catch as well.

You know, we haven't really seen him play a i would say a significant role in the passing game this season.

But that throw and catch from Jackson Dart to Tyrone Tracy in the end zone against the Commanders was great, and you know, kind of showed flashes of what we saw from Tyrone last year in this Giants offense.

So and Theo Johnson as well.

I mean he THEO led the Giants with seventy two receiving yards this past week.

Has been a big, big part of the passing game week in and week out.

You know, he's clearly one of Jackson Dart's favorite and most trusted targets.

So this could be an interesting matchup.

You know, of the remaining defenses the Giants have left to play this season, this is the one where you know, might cause the Giants the toughest problem.

So it'll be good to see how these young players respond to going up against a good defense.

Good challenge for this team, especially back at My Life Stadium.

We know, in Week fifteen it was quite cold out there and it will probably be once again on Sunday afternoon when the Giants host the Vikings.

But listen, Russ, we got a lot of history to get into with this team.

So let's get a little What do you know?

What do you say to light and things up around here?

Well, I'll say this, what do you know?

What do you say?

Wouldn't it be nice if they could turn back the clock and give us a score this week that the Giants gave us a score back on January fourteenth, two thousand and one.

That was the NFC championship game of the two thousand season.

Final score at Giants Stadium was Giants forty one, the Vikings nothing.

Now.

In that game, they were five touchdowns scored by the Giants.

Four players doing the score.

Ring one did it twice.

Can you name I'll make it a little easier for you.

Can you name three of the four players that scored the touchdowns?

Three of the four players?

This is two thousand and one, he said, Amani Tumor.

Yeah, it was a champion NFC championship game.

It's the two thousand season was played in two thousand and one January Moni Tumor is going, You're right, I.

Killard, go ahead, I kill your I kill your Yeah.

Yeah, Thanky Barber no, mm hmmm.

Two thousand and one one was before it was plax plexical.

No, no, a few more years.

Who's carry Collins throwing touchdowns?

Too?

All right?

No brand James one initial is J J.

Joe Jarvisius very good, good man.

Oh Matt, no game in New York.

So you guys got original.

Give me the fourth one?

Okay, what's the hind for the fourth.

Running back?

Full back?

I believe.

You won't get this.

I wouldn't get this.

I wouldn't get this one.

Greg Kamella, Oh no, by the way, I kill you, I kill you scored two in that game.

He I caught two passes for forty six and seven yards Comella eighteen, Juravicious eight and Amani seven.

How about that five touchdown passes in that game?

That that was a cold day too.

I don't mind telling you.

I remember that one very very well.

Play home games in the Northeast, man in the Midwest.

Boy, Yeah, that's why, like Mandlin brought it up before, when sometimes people bring up why don't they make a dome, Hey, it's the Northeast.

Ain't nobody putting up domes in Northeast.

That's Northeast football.

That's the way it is.

If you don't like to go move someplace, but it's Northeast football.

I love it all right.

Well, let's wrap this up with a little over under because we've got Giants Vikings the latest installment in this storied matchup here Giants Vikings, Week sixteen at MetLife Stadium.

Let's do a little over under spicings up, starting with THEO Johnson, the Giants tight end.

Matt over or under seventy receiving yards for THEO and for contacts.

He had seventy two last week against Washington.

I'm going to go ahead and say over, even though that is a high number for anyone, especially a tight end.

But the Vikings have been absolutely fantastic at limiting opposing wide receivers, so this might be a tough game for you know, Slayden Wandell.

So I think THEO might end up being Jackson's number one target in this game.

So I'm gonna go over seventy yards.

Russ Well, seventy yards is a lot.

It is a lot.

It's a tight end, and you know, I'm gonna say under.

You know, I think it could be around that number, but I'm gonna say under.

Jac Yeah, I'm gonna go over.

I'm in sidetach here.

You know, thinking about Brian Floores his defense, how aggressive they are.

I think we're gonna see some screens from the Giants a lot, and the two guys that they feature a lot is THEO Johnson and also the running back, whether it's Tracy or Singletary.

So I believe what Sytak was saying.

He probably would be the number one wide receiver in terms of yardage for the Giants of this game.

Absolutely, And I think we've seen of late too, how much they love using the tight end.

Theo's pivotal part for Jackson Dart.

I'm gonna take the over as well.

And you mentioned Tyrone Tracy also a part of that over under ninety total yards for Tyrone Tracy, that's rushing and receiving total yards.

He had ninety seven last week.

Jason, what do you think I'm gonna go over just just what I said, you know, the screen game against an aggressive defense that Brian Floyes runs, It's gonna incorporate THEO Johnson, who they like to get to, and then Tracy and then last week that touchdown catch against one of the best linebackers we've ever seen play football.

One on one coverage.

You kind of forget that he played wide receiver not too long ago, and they might say, hey, let's get this guy out on routes, especially when he's matched up against these linebackers, because it's an advantage for the Giants whenever Tracy gets out in the passing game.

Very true, Russ.

Yeah, I'm gonna I'm gonna agree.

I say it's over.

You know, we've been talking a lot about that great catch.

It was a great catch and you brought it up man in a great throw also by Jackson Dart, but not just to catch.

How about that touchdown run?

Yeah, beautiful run.

You know what that was?

That was old Mark Bavarro kind of like just pulling people ahead, pulling with him barreling into the end zone.

I can't say enough about Tracy.

I mean, he is a real young guy, but a real pro And very good point, Jc that people forget he was a wide receiver, you know, most of his career in college.

So yeah, I think that to add him into that pissing game could be indicative of what I think we're gonna see.

Yeah, Matt, Yeah, I'm gonna go over as well.

I mean I talked about how great.

The Vikings have been against the pass, they've kind of struggled against the run.

That's definitely the area of this defense that you want to attack is on the ground.

And in his last three full games, because obviously he left that Patriots game early with the hip injury, left in the first half, but his last three full games he's topped that ninety yard mark easily.

I mean this the Commanders game he had ninety seven.

That was the closest he got to the ninety yard mark against the Lions, and against the Packers he had one hundred and thirty or more total yards.

So I think he's gonna clear one hundred yards against the Vikings on Sunday.

Wooh, all right, going over over on this one, Mars, All right, let's talk defense.

Giants defense.

Can they take down the quarterback JC over under two and a half sacks on JJ McCarthy.

I'm gonna go under here.

I don't think this is going to be a big passing game for either team.

I think both teams are going to try to stick to the run and then have their young quarterbacks make plays on third down.

I just don't think the Giants will have a lot of opportunities to get to the quarterback.

JJ is susceptible.

He will hold on to the ball a little bit longer.

But I don't see him having more than twenty twenty five pass attempt and they really try to stick it to the Giants and run the football.

So I'm gonna go under.

Matt.

Well, I'm gonna go over.

I mean, I hear what JC, I hear what you're saying.

And I don't know if JJ is going to have a ton of passing attempts.

I wouldn't expect him to.

But the Vikings offensive line has given up sacks at a very high rate this year.

They rank six most sacks allowed on the season.

JJ McCarthy in more than half of the yards has been sacked more than twice.

So even if it's even if the Giants evens don't have a ton of opportunities, I think they're gonna get to him when they do have the chance.

So I'm gonna go over two and a half.

Sacks, all right, Russ, two and a half sacks means they got to get three.

If that's the number I tend to I'm gonna say I agree with Jac.

I'm gonna go with the under on this.

I mean they could get a couple.

If they get three, I'll be more than happy, but say that I was wrong.

But I think three is pushing it.

I'm gonna go with maybe two sacks.

Two sacks means it's got to be under.

Yeah, I'm in agreement with you there too.

I'm taking the two sacks.

I think the Giants have been on a bit of a dry spell in terms of sacks since Kveon Thibodeau has been out and not saying that he's been providing a lot of the sacks, but that pressure from his side has really been facilitating things for other guys.

I think two sacks is a good number, and I'd be happy with that one.

So I'll take the under on this one, all right, Giants Vikings Sunday at one pm at MetLife Stadium will be there.

We'll be wrapping it up and we'll be yapping about it next week for more on the Giants hanging out brought to you by Crosstaurant.

Thanks for hanging with us today for Russ Salzburg.

Matt Sytek and the Super Bowl champion Jonathan can see us.

I'm Madeleine Burke and we'll see you next time.